NAIROBI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The ninth Changamka Kenya shopping festival opened in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, on Tuesday, bringing together over 400 exhibitors to celebrate homegrown products.
Organized by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers alongside the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, the five-day showcase gives local manufacturers a dynamic space to connect with shoppers, forge business ties, and discover new growth opportunities.
Lee Kinyanjui, cabinet secretary at the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, said the festival reaffirms Kenya's commitment to promoting local manufacturing, value addition and export competitiveness.
"We must make a deliberate choice to strengthen our industries and support local production. When we buy Kenyan-made products, we support businesses that manufacture them, the people they employ and the wider network of enterprises connected to their operations," Kinyanjui said.
According to Kinyanjui, Kenya is driving domestic manufacturing through affordable financing, with a strategic focus on special economic zones and county-level aggregation and industrial parks, alongside critical investments in logistics and value addition.
Juma Mukhwana, principal secretary for the State Department for Industry, noted that bolstering supportive infrastructure, skills development, technology and training will be vital to accelerating the country's industrial progress, generating jobs, and expanding regional trade.
Sustained investments in local manufacturing and resilient supply chains will be key to integrating Kenya into the global market, spurring long-term growth and shared prosperity, said Hitesh Mediratta, board chairperson of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM).
KAM Chief Executive Tobias Alando noted that the shopping festival has evolved into an essential platform for connecting local manufacturers with consumers and driving business opportunities across the industrial value chain. ■
